Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-11-30

so deep he knows not where to fight
the foe, and the seconds seem eternities
as he waits, every nerve at strain
Again the cry. Il IS nearer now.
Ralph waits no longer. His senses
are trained with the outdoor life he has
led, and with an unerring instinct he
measures the distance from the spot
whence comes that awful call.
Wild though the spate may be, it has
no power to check his daring. Into the
whitening fOaIn he dasheS.
The plunge makes him glddy and the
noise cOnfuSes; yet he manages to keep
his footing though the course of the
current makes it difficult.
The clouds break little, and there Is
a faint light behind them, and he sees
a human figure borne on the stream
above him and dashed against an out
luttlng mass OF rock.
II Is but a second that the downsweep
is stayed by the obstacle; yet it is sufli
cient for the young fellow TO reach the
point and grasp in his strong arm the
stunned and helpless man.
Thus far he is successful, but not 50
quickly can the landing he effected.
Hampered as he Is by the unconscious
weight he holds, the lad has little
power TO struggle against the stream,
and IS borne on and on, though he
clutches yalnly with the one nand tnat
is free at every branch of tree, or twig,
or jutting stone that overhangs the
banks.
He grows very weary and faint, yet
bravely Will not yield.
Fortunately for him, the man hs
holds IS not conscious enough TO impede
fHFF
TO keep his own head and that of his
helpless burden above water.
y terrible fear Is on him, for he
knows they are nearing the lake, and
once within IL he will be out of his
depth and effort viii be useless, for the
inland lad has never learnt to swim.
The terror gives him strength and
nerves him for one more struggle as he
sees fallen tree athwaTt the stream.
With Il strain tLat tries every Well
knit muscle, he gains the bank, and
sinks exhausted on the soaking sward,
his cOmrade in his arms.
y brief moment or cessation from
struggle TevIveS him, and, bending over
the man he has tried TO save, lie feels
his heart
Thank heaven, it still beats. Yet
how feebly, and out there ON the bare
hIIl side what chance has be TO revive
its exhausted powers?
As he 50 bends the night grows
clearer and a star or two shine forth.
BY their light he can See the white set
face Of the man for whom he has risked
his very life.
Now lie knows L,
II IS that of one who has treated him
cTUely--One who had vowed never so
long rs life should last TO look on him
save as an enemy and traitOr-that
of old farmer Wilkinson, the father of
his darling
Good God, if the man should de
with these bitter words unSaidl
Ralph moves the pTustrate figure into
the shelter Of a neIghboring fence.
raises the gray head Ieverentiy and
cha!es the cold, thin hands.
II Is all he can do, but he Is painfully
conscious how little il Is, and the tears
nil Lis Kin .lY honest eyes as he thinks
81 the lonely gil watching Tor the stern
Old man Hohm lie knows size loves.
BY and 10y the closed eyes open and
look INTO Rllph'S face, and the farmer
tries to speak.
Nv here is 1? and where's Marjory.
/ seed her plain as the dag We were
wed, and she's been gone this sixteen
years"
You tainted, that IS alI,' answers
the lad, gently. NOW you are better
I'll run and fetch help to carry you
home. I'll not De long. L promise
you.'
But old Aaron had sunk back into
semi-cOnSciOusneSs, and for a while
Ralph fails to rouse him.
Apparently, however, his voice
reaches the old mans ears and sounds
familiar, for by and by brukeniy he
begins again 10 speak, SO low that only
by stopping close can the anxious lis
tener hear his words and catch their
meaning.
LAY, ay, it's RIlph-him as the lassie
said she loyed-and I'll never see her
bOnny face again, and we parted with
never word % kindness. Tell her /
forgive her, aud-ye-and Oh, lad,
make her happy if ye can"
Then the old mans head falls back
on the strong young arm that RAISES II,
and all is still.
Too well does Ralph know the me M
ing of that terrible silence.
Death has won another victory.
Yet another task lies before the
young ana wOrsied combatant, and
with white and trembling lips and ach-
ing heart he sets out 10 bear TO her he
loves the knowledge OF her loss.
Youth gueyes and youth despairs,
but youth loves; and where love fingers
iife's greatest SORROWS can lie borne,
and the deepest, sOTest wounds will
heal
Winter past, and Maggie learnt again
10 wear her winsOme smile, though the
old father lay in the churchyard on the
hill.
She still stayed at the lonely farm.
with only hind to help her III its man
agement; but the house WAS TO have A
new master ere the summer came again
II was early spIingtime now, and the
grass was growing green, and the tiny
garden WAS sweet with primroses and
wail1JwerS, while about the uorch
crept the sweet scented samine and
budding hrier.
ThrTe Maggie lOitered with her lover
IN the golden twilight, and a snow
white dove flew cITclIng round their
heads, or perched amid the opening
leaves in the porch.
The strange fair visitant of that
stormy night still fingered, and Maggie
IL
rare deep tenderness.
Perhaps the loneliness made her
more imaginative, more dreamy, for a
sweet poetic fancy had taken possession
of the gIrl's fancy.
The bird had flown to her breast at
the very hour her fathers soul had
taken flight, and TO her loving. half
Temorseful heart il seemed as though
his spirit had come in this gentle guise
To tel her OF his forgiveness and his
love,
Tie long rays of the setting sun
slanted across the valley and touched
with light here and there the distant
hills, and gliuted upon the churchyard
where slept the last of her kindred, and
the girls eyes followed them and filed
with tears.
Tell me once more what he said at
the very, very end, Ralph, dear" she
whispered, and the lad repeated the
Old mans dying words very softly as he
drew his sweetheart closer and kissed
her tsnderly.